Apparatus and method for selection of a gateway of a local area network

ABSTRACT

A provided apparatus is caused to direct establishment of a connection of the apparatus with a core network via a wide area radio access network (RAN), where the core network is coupled to an external network. The apparatus is also caused to select or receive selection of a local area network that is coupled to the same or different external network via one or more local gateways (L-GWs). The apparatus is caused to request selection of a L-GW of the one or more L-GWs from the core network via the wide area RAN, and in response, receive an identity of a selected L-GW. Further, the apparatus is caused to direct contact with the selected L-GW based on the identity, and establishment of a connection of the apparatus with the selected L-GW. The apparatus may thereby be connected to the external network via the local area network and selected L-GW.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments of the present invention generally relate toeffectuating local area and wide area connectivity of a device with amobile network to one or more external networks and, more particularly,relate to an apparatus and method for selecting or receiving selectionof a gateway of a local area network for effectuating said local areaconnectivity.

BACKGROUND

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansionof wireline and wireless networks. Various types of networkingtechnologies have been developed resulting in an unprecedented expansionof computer networks, television networks, mobile communicationnetworks, telephony networks, and the like, fueled by consumer demand.Beyond third generation (3G) wireless systems (B3G) and 4G mobilecommunication systems are considered to be heterogeneous networks thatinclude multiple radio access technologies (RATs), which may beimplemented by corresponding radio access networks (RANs). Examples ofsuch multi-RAT environments include 2G (e.g., GPRS, EDGE), 3G (e.g.,UMTS, W-CDMA), 3G transitional (e.g., HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE) or 4G (e.g.,IMT-A, LTE-A) networks, a 3G/2G environment or even a cellular/WLANenvironment.

Wide area RANs generally provide user equipment with wide area access tothe core networks of public land mobile networks (PLMNs), and to otherexternal networks such as the Internet via a respective core network.Another type of network, referred to as a local access network,generally provides user equipment with access to these and otherexternal networks either going through or without going through(bypassing) the core network. Access to the external network withoutgoing through the core network may be referred to as a local breakout.The term heterogeneous network is often used to describe wirelessnetworks using different access technologies. In this regard, a wirelessheterogeneous network may, for example, provide a service through awireless local area network (WLAN) and switch to a cellular networkwhile maintaining the service.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one aspect of example embodiments of the present invention,an apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and atleast one memory including computer program code, where the memory andthe computer program code are configured to, with the processor, causethe apparatus to at least perform a number of operations. In thisregard, the apparatus is caused to direct establishment of a connectionof the apparatus with a core network via a wide area radio accessnetwork, where the core network is coupled to a first external network.The apparatus is also caused to select or receive selection of a localarea network that is distinct from the wide area radio access network,and that is coupled to a second external network via one or more localgateways. The second external network may be the same or different fromthe first external network.

The apparatus is caused to receive an identity of a selected localgateway from the core network, direct contact with the selected localgateway based on the identity, and establishment of a connection of theapparatus with the selected local gateway. In one example, theconnection may be established as a tunnel, and in such instances, theapparatus and selected gateway may be the endpoints of the tunnel. Theapparatus may thereby be connected to the second external network viathe local area network and selected local gateway. More particularly,for example, the apparatus may have a concurrent connection with thefirst external network via the wide area radio access network and withthe second external network via the local area network afterestablishment of the connection of the apparatus with the selected localgateway.

In one example, the apparatus being caused to receive the identity of aselected local gateway includes the apparatus being caused to preparefor transmission from the apparatus to the core network via the widearea radio access network, a request for selection of a local gateway ofthe one or more local gateways via which the local area network iscoupled to the second external network. In this example, the apparatusmay also be caused to receive an identity of a selected local gateway ofthe one or more local gateways from the core network in response to therequest.

In another example, apparatus being caused to receive the identity of aselected local gateway includes the apparatus being caused to receivefrom the core network a list identifying one or more possible localgateways and instructions on how to select a local gateway from thelist. In this example, the apparatus may also be caused to select alocal gateway from the list in accordance with the instructions. Also inthis example, the apparatus may be further caused to prepare fortransmission to the core network via the wide area radio access network,a request for approval of the selected local gateway; and in response tothe request, receive a response from the core network accepting orrejecting the selected local gateway.

The apparatus may be further caused to selectively communicate with thefirst external network via the wide area radio access network, and thesecond external network via the local area network, according to one ormore offload policies loaded by the core network into the selected localgateway. This selective communication may occur concurrently with theapparatus having respective interfaces to the wide are radio accessnetwork and local area network open at the same time. Directing trafficto the interfaces may then be decided in a number of different manners,such as on a per-flow or per-flow-type basis, or in accordance with theaforementioned offload policies.

According to another aspect of example embodiments of the presentinvention, an apparatus is provided that similarly includes at least oneprocessor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherethe memory and the computer program code are configured to, with theprocessor, cause the apparatus to at least perform a number ofoperations. According to this aspect, the apparatus is caused to preparean identity of a selected local gateway for transmission to userequipment, the identity of the selected local gateway being prepared fortransmission from the apparatus as part of a core network with which auser equipment is connected via a wide area radio access network, wherethe core network is coupled to a first external network. The userequipment is configured to select or receive selection of a local areanetwork that is distinct from the wide area radio access network, andthat is coupled to a second external network via one or more localgateways (the second external network being the same or different fromthe first external network). The user equipment, then, may be configuredto contact the selected local gateway based on the identity, andestablish a connection with the selected local gateway. The userequipment may thereby be connected to the second external network viathe local area network and selected local gateway.

In one example, the apparatus may be configured to receive a request forselection of a local gateway of the one or more local gateways via whichthe local area network is coupled to the second external network. Insuch instances, the apparatus may also be caused to select a localgateway of the one or more local gateways, such as based on one or moreof a subscription of the UE's user with the PLMN operator (determinedbased on an identity of the user equipment), a location, contextinformation and/or presence definitions of the user equipment, qualityof service (QoS) and/or service profiles, or an identity of the selectedlocal area network. The apparatus may then be caused to prepare anidentity of the selected local gateway for transmission to the userequipment.

In another example, the apparatus being caused to prepare an identity ofa selected local gateway for transmission includes being configured tocause the apparatus to prepare for transmission, a list identifying oneor more possible local gateways and instructions on how to select alocal gateway from the list. In this example, the user equipment may beconfigured to select a local gateway from the list in accordance withthe instructions. Also in this example, the apparatus may be furthercaused to receive from the user equipment via the wide area radio accessnetwork, a request for approval of the selected local gateway; and inresponse to the request, prepare a response for transmission to the userequipment accepting or rejecting the selected local gateway.

The apparatus may be further caused to prepare one or more offload andconnectivity policies (including, e.g., security modes and settings) fortransmission from the core network to at least one of the one or morelocal gateways to thereby load the respective policies into therespective at least one of the one or more local gateways. The userequipment connection with the selected gateway may therefore beeffectuated in accordance with the offload and connectivity policies(possibly including security modes and settings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn toscale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system according to various exampleembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates various elements of the system of FIG. 1, arrangedaccording to various example embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus that may be configured to operate withinthe system of FIG. 1, according to various example embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts including various operations in methodsaccording to various example embodiments of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are collectively a control flow diagram includingvarious operations in a method according to various example embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments of the present invention will now be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. Reference may be made herein to terms specific to aparticular system, architecture or the like, but it should be understoodthat example embodiments of the present invention may be equallyapplicable to other similar systems, architectures or the like. Forexample, reference may be made to the 3GPP entities; however, it shouldbe understood that example embodiments of the present invention may beequally applicable to other mechanisms for controlling network discoveryand selection, including both 3GPP and non-3GPP technologies andmechanisms.

The terms “data,” “content,” “information,” and similar terms may beused interchangeably, according to some example embodiments of thepresent invention, to refer to data capable of being transmitted,received, operated on, and/or stored. The term “network” may refer to agroup of interconnected computers, clients, servers or other computingdevices. Within a network, these computers or other computing devicesmay be interconnected directly or indirectly by various means includingvia one or more switches, routers, gateways, access points or the like.

Further, as used herein, the term “circuitry” refers to any or all ofthe following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such asimplementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry); (b) tocombinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (asapplicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions ofprocessor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), softwareand memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as amobile phone or server, to perform various functions); and (c) tocircuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of amicroprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, evenif the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of “circuitry” applies to all uses of this term in thisapplication, including in any claims. As a further example, as used inthis application, the term “circuitry” would also cover animplementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portionof a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.The term “circuitry” would also cover, for example and if applicable tothe particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit orapplications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or asimilar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, orother network device.

Further, as described herein, various messages or other communicationmay be transmitted or otherwise sent from one element or apparatus toanother element or apparatus. It should be understood that transmittinga message or other communication may include not only transmission ofthe message or other communication, but may also include preparation ofthe message or other communication by a transmitting apparatus orvarious means of the transmitting apparatus.

FIG. 1 depicts a communications system according to various exampleembodiments of the present invention. As shown, the system includes oneor more public land mobile network (PLMNs) 10 coupled to one or moreother external networks 12—notably including a wide area network (WAN)such as the Internet. Each of the PLMNs includes a core network (CN) 14backbone such as the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of the Evolved PacketSystem (EPS); and each of the core networks and the Internet are coupledto one or more radio access networks (RANs) 16, air interfaces or thelike that implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs).

In addition, the system includes one or more mobile radio units that maybe varyingly known as user equipment (UE) 20, terminal equipment, mobilestation or the like. As a mobile terminal, the UE may be a mobilecomputer, mobile phone, a communicator, a tablet, a portable digitalassistant (PDA), a pager, a mobile television, a gaming device, a mobilecomputer, a laptop computer, a camera, a video recorder, an audio/videoplayer, a radio, and/or a global positioning system (GPS) device, anycombination of the aforementioned, or the like. In operation, these UEsmay be configured to connect to one or more of the RANs 16 according totheir particular RATs to thereby access a particular core network of aPLMN 10, or to access one or more of the external networks 12 (e.g., theInternet). In various instances, a single UE, a dual-mode or multimodeUE, may support multiple (two or more) RANs—thereby being configured toconnect to multiple RANs. For example, a particular UE may support bothGSM and UMTS radio access technologies.

Examples of radio access technologies include 3GPP radio access, 3GPP2radio access (e.g., CDMA 2000 radio access), Wireless Local AreaNetworks (WLANs) such as IEEE 802.xx networks (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b,802.11g, 802.11n, etc.), world interoperability for microwave access(WiMAX) networks, IEEE 802.16, and/or wireless Personal Area Networks(WPANs) such as IEEE 802.15, Bluetooth, low power versions of Bluetooth,ultra wideband (UWB), Wibree, Zigbee or the like. Examples of 3GPP radioaccess technologies include 2G, 3G (also known as International MobileTelecommunications-2000 or IMT-2000), 3.5G, 3.9G or 4G (IMT-Advanced orIMT-A) technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GSMEvolution (EDGE), UMTS radio access UTRAN (Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess Network), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA),High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) including High-Speed Downlink PacketAccess (HSDPA) and/or High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), UTRANLong Term Evolution (LTE), Super 3G or E-UTRAN (Evolved UTRAN),LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), IMT-Advanced (International MobileTelecommunications Advanced—IMT-A) or the like. Generally, a radioaccess technology may refer to any 2G, 3G, 4G or higher generationmobile communication technology and their different versions, as well asto any other wireless radio access technology that may be arranged tointerwork with such a mobile communication technology to provide accessto an operator's core network.

A RAN 16 may generally include some type of networkcontrolling/governing entity, such as a radio network controller inUTRAN or base station controller in GSM, which may be responsible forcontrol of one or more base stations (BSs) that are configured tointeract with UEs 20. In various instances, a BS may be referred to as abase station, access point (AP), base transceiver station (BTS), Node B(NB), evolved NB (eNB), macro BS, NB (MNB) or eNB (MeNB), home BS, NB(HNB) or eNB (HeNB), or the like. As used herein, a networkcontrolling/governing entity and BS may be separate or integrated into asingle apparatus. The network controlling/governing entity may include acontroller, processor or the like programmed to carry out variousmanagement functions, etc. The controller may be associated with amemory or database for maintaining information required in themanagement functions. The network controlling/governing entity mayinclude one or more switch units for switching connection betweennetwork elements within the RAN. The switch units may include, forexample, one or more Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet or Asynchronous TransferMode (ATM) switches, and/or any other layer-2 transport and switchingnetwork, possibly including radio links. The networkcontrolling/governing entity may be connected to a Circuit Switched CoreNetwork through, e.g., Media Gateway (MGW) and to a Packet Switched CoreNetwork through, e.g., one or more of a Serving GPRS Support Node(SGSN), packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW) or serving gateway(S-GW).

FIG. 2 more particularly depicts various elements of the networks shownin FIG. 1, according to various example embodiments of the presentinvention. The system includes a wide area RAN 22, which in variousinstances may be configured as one or more macrocells, microcells,picocells, femtocells or the like. The wide area RAN may include one ormore BSs which, in one example, may be referred to as MeNBs 24. The widearea RAN may be coupled to a core network 26 of a mobile networkoperator (MNO) via one or more defined interfaces, such as aS1-interface, an lu-interface or the like. The core network may include,for example, a mobility management entity (MME) 28, S-GW 30, P-GW 32,access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) 34 or the like.

The MME 28 and S-GW 30 may be separate or integrated into a singleapparatus and perform control-plane functionality and bearer-planefunctionality, respectively, for the core network 26. The MME in theMNO's core network may be a control node of the UE 20, and may beresponsible for managing, for example, mobility, temporary UE identitiesand security parameters and paging procedure including retransmissions.The MME may also be involved in the bearer activation/deactivationprocess, and may be also responsible for selecting a S-GW and/or P-GW 32for the UE 20. The MME includes further functions and protocols such asNon Access Stratum (NAS) signaling and security procedures, and mayfurther check the authorization of the UE to camp on the serviceprovider's PLMN and/or enforce UE roaming restrictions. The MME may alsoprovide the control plane function for mobility between different RATs(e.g., LTE and 2G/3G).

The S-GW 30 may be responsible for routing and forwarding user data toand from UEs 20, and may also serve as a user-plane anchor duringinter-BS handovers and as the anchor for mobility between different RATs(e.g., LTE and 2G/3G).

The P-GW 32 may provide the UE 20 with connectivity to external networkssuch as the Internet 36 by being the point of exit and entry of trafficfor the UE. By the external network(s), the UE may communicate with oneor more apparatus such as servers 38 coupled to the respectivenetwork(s). It should be understood, however, that other types ofconnections are possible, such as in the context of peer-to-peernetworking, ad-hoc networking or the like where the UE may serve as ahost, client or both host and client. The P-GW may also perform policyenforcement, packet filtering for each user, charging support, packetscreening and the like. And the P-GW may function as an anchor formobility between different RATs (e.g., 3GPP and non-3GPP).

The P-GW 32 may also manage and store contexts for UE data sessions withan external network such as the Internet 36 via the core network 26 andwide area RAN 22. A UE context in this instance may be or include datastructures present in a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context withinformation regarding the UE's active session. This information mayinclude, for example, routing information and one or more policiesand/or preferences such as for charging, user priorities, subscriptionweights or limits, traffic quality of service (QoS) priorities, trafficshaping policies or the like.

The ANDSF 34 may be implemented by a server or other apparatus, and mayprovide the UE 20 with access network discovery information andinter-system mobility policies for the core network 26 within which theANDSF is located. The ANDSF may implement device managementfunctionality to configure a UE or assist a UE with radio accessdetection and selection. In accordance with DM, the ANDSF may setparameters of the UE via the use of a managed object (MO) that organizesparameters related to policy, discovery information and UE location in acollection of nodes.

In addition to the wide area RAN 22 and core network 26, the UE 20 maybe coupled to a local area network 40, and may connect via thesenetworks to one or more external networks such as the Internet 36 or aprivate network such as an Intranet, Extranet or the like (or, e.g., tothe Internet via a private network). The local area network may beconfigured as a local area RAN arranged to interwork with other RANs toprovide access to a core network, such as in the context of a WLANconfigured to access the core network via a WLAN access gateway (WAG).Additionally or alternatively, the local area network may be arranged toprovide access to one or more external networks independent of anoperator's core network, such as in the context of a WLAN configured toaccess external network(s) independent of the core network. The localarea network generally permits the UE to connect to an external networkeither through or without going through (bypassing) the core network,where access to the external network without going through the corenetwork may be referred to as a local breakout. The wide area RAN, onthe other hand, permits the UE to connect to an external network, butrequires the connection to pass through the core network.

The local area network 40 may include one or more BSs which, in oneexample, may be referred to as HeNBs 42. The local area network may havea geographic area of coverage at least partially overlapped by the widearea RAN, and may operate at least partially within the geographic areaof the wide area RAN. The local area network, however, may be bettersuited than the wide area RAN in various environments such as indoors aspart of a residential or enterprise network. In this regard, the localarea network may also include a default gateway (dGW) 44, such as a HeNBgateway, that serves to couple the HeNB to an external network such as aresidential/enterprise network 46, and a local gateway (L-GW) 48 thatserves to couple the HeNB to an external network such as the Internet36. As indicated above, access to these external networks bypassing thecore network 26 may be referred to as a local breakout. This localbreakout may occur, for example, using 3GPP technologies suited for thelocal area access or using non-3GPP technologies such as WLAN. It isnotable that in a local breakout scheme, the local access by eithertechnology (3GPP or non-3GPP) may replace registration to the operator'svisited PLMN (VPLMN). Yet, according to example embodiments of thepresent invention invention, the access may at least partly becontrolled by the operator, as explained below.

Resources between the wide area and local area networks may be shared ina number of different manners, such as by dividing the operation of therespective networks to different frequencies or frequency bands, eitherunder spectrum licensing rules or as unlicensed to license-exempt bands.In various instances, dividing the operation of wide area and local areanetworks to different frequencies may employ frequencies in the samefrequency band, such as by using different carrier frequencies selectedby a deployment plan or by network auto-configuration programs. Someaccess nodes may also mutually operate on the same frequencies(co-channel operation), such as when the power (interference) conditionsor operation modes allow this kind of operation.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates an apparatus 50 thatmay be configured to function as one or more elements of the systems ofFIGS. 1 and 2 to perform example methods of the present invention. Theseelements may include, for example, the UE 20, MeNB 24, MME 28, S-GW 30,P-GW 32, ANDSF 34, server 38, HeNB 42, dGW 44 and/or L-GW 48. Althoughshown as separate elements, in some example embodiments, an apparatusmay support more than one element, logically separated but co-locatedwithin the apparatus. For example, a single apparatus may support alogically separate, but co-located, HeNB, dGW and/or L-GW. Also, forexample, a single apparatus may support a logically separate, butco-located, S-GW and MME.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus 50 may, be embodied as, orincluded as an element of, a communications device with wired orwireless communications capabilities. The example apparatus may includeor otherwise be in communication with one or more processors 52, memorydevices 54, Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 56, communications interfaces58 and/or user interfaces 60 (one of each being shown). Depending on theelement of FIG. 1 being implemented by the apparatus, however, theapparatus may include additional elements and/or may not include one ormore of the foregoing elements, such as the user interfaces.

The processor 52 may be embodied as various means for implementing thevarious functionalities of example embodiments of the present inventionincluding, for example, one or more of a microprocessor, a coprocessor,a controller, a special-purpose integrated circuit such as, for example,an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (fieldprogrammable gate array), DSP (digital signal processor), or a hardwareaccelerator, processing circuitry or other similar hardware. Accordingto one example embodiment, the processor may be representative of aplurality of processors, or one or more multi-core processors, operatingindividually or in concert. A multi-core processor enablesmultiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of amulti-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers ofprocessing cores. Further, the processor may be comprised of a pluralityof transistors, logic gates, a clock (for example, oscillator), othercircuitry, and the like to facilitate performance of the functionalitydescribed herein. The processor may, but need not, include one or moreaccompanying digital signal processors (DSPs). A DSP may, for example,be configured to process real-world signals in real time independent ofthe processor. Similarly, an accompanying ASIC may, for example, beconfigured to perform specialized functions not easily performed by amore general purpose processor. In some example embodiments, theprocessor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memorydevice or instructions otherwise accessible to the processor. Theprocessor may be configured to operate such that the processor causesthe apparatus to perform various functionalities described herein.

Whether configured as hardware alone or via instructions stored on acomputer-readable storage medium, or by a combination thereof, theprocessor 52 may be an apparatus configured to perform operationsaccording to embodiments of the present invention while configuredaccordingly. Thus, in example embodiments where the processor isembodied as, or is part of, an ASIC, FPGA, or the like, the processor isspecifically configured hardware for conducting the operations describedherein. Alternatively, in example embodiments where the processor isembodied as an executor of instructions stored on a computer-readablestorage medium, the instructions specifically configure the processor toperform the algorithms and operations described herein. In some exampleembodiments, the processor is a processor of a specific deviceconfigured for employing example embodiments of the present invention byfurther configuration of the processor via executed instructions forperforming the algorithms, methods, and operations described herein.

The memory device 54 may be one or more computer-readable storage mediathat may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory. In some exampleembodiments, the memory device may include Random Access Memory (RAM)including dynamic and/or static RAM, on-chip or off-chip cache memory,and/or the like. Further, the memory device may include non-volatilememory, which may be embedded and/or removable, and may include, forexample, Read-Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, magnetic storage devices(for example, hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, etc.),optical disc drives and/or media, non-volatile random access memory(NVRAM), and/or the like. The memory device may include a cache area fortemporary storage of data. In this regard, at least a portion or theentire memory device may be included within the processor 52.

Further, the memory device 54 may be configured to store information,data, applications, computer-readable program code instructions, and/orthe like for enabling the processor 52 and the example apparatus 50 tocarry out various functions in accordance with example embodiments ofthe present invention described herein. For example, the memory devicemay be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor.Additionally, or alternatively, the memory device may be configured tostore instructions for execution by the processor. The memory may besecurely protected, with the integrity of the data stored therein beingensured. In this regard, data access may be checked with authenticationand authorized based on access control policies.

The I/O interface 56 may be any device, circuitry, or means embodied inhardware, software or a combination of hardware and software that isconfigured to interface the processor 52 with other circuitry ordevices, such as the communications interface 58 and/or the userinterface 60. In some example embodiments, the processor may interfacewith the memory device via the I/O interface. The I/O interface may beconfigured to convert signals and data into a form that may beinterpreted by the processor. The I/O interface may also performbuffering of inputs and outputs to support the operation of theprocessor. According to some example embodiments, the processor and theI/O interface may be combined onto a single chip or integrated circuitconfigured to perform, or cause the apparatus 50 to perform, variousfunctionalities of an example embodiment of the present invention.

The communication interface 58 may be any device or means embodied inhardware, software or a combination of hardware and software that isconfigured to receive and/or transmit data from/to one or more networks62 and/or any other device or module in communication with the exampleapparatus 50. The processor 52 may also be configured to facilitatecommunications via the communications interface by, for example,controlling hardware included within the communications interface. Inthis regard, the communication interface may include, for example, oneor more antennas, a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver and/orsupporting hardware, including, for example, a processor for enablingcommunications. Via the communication interface, the example apparatusmay communicate with various other network elements in adevice-to-device fashion and/or via indirect communications.

The communications interface 58 may be configured to provide forcommunications in accordance with any of a number of wired or wirelesscommunication standards. The communications interface may be configuredto support communications in multiple antenna environments, such asmultiple input multiple output (MIMO) environments. Further, thecommunications interface may be configured to support orthogonalfrequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signaling. In some exampleembodiments, the communications interface may be configured tocommunicate in accordance with various techniques including, asexplained above, any of a number of 2G, 3G, 4G or higher generationmobile communication technology and their different versions, radiofrequency (RF), infrared data association (IrDA) or any of a number ofdifferent wireless networking techniques. The communications interfacemay also be configured to support communications at the network layer,possibly via Internet Protocol (IP).

The user interface 60 may be in communication with the processor 52 toreceive user input via the user interface and/or to present output to auser as, for example, audible, visual, mechanical or other outputindications. The user interface may include, for example, a keyboard, amouse, a joystick, a display (for example, a touch screen display), amicrophone, a speaker, or other input/output mechanisms. Further, theprocessor may comprise, or be in communication with, user interfacecircuitry configured to control at least some functions of one or moreelements of the user interface. The processor and/or user interfacecircuitry may be configured to control one or more functions of one ormore elements of the user interface through computer programinstructions (for example, software, firmware, middleware, embeddedsoftware and/or higher abstractions of software such as scripts ormarkup languages) stored on a memory accessible to the processor (forexample, the memory device 54). In some example embodiments, the userinterface circuitry is configured to facilitate user control of at leastsome functions of the apparatus 50 through the use of a display andconfigured to respond to user inputs. The processor may also comprise,or be in communication with, display circuitry configured to display atleast a portion of a user interface, the display and the displaycircuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least somefunctions of the apparatus.

In some cases, the apparatus 50 of example embodiments may beimplemented on a chip or chip set. In an example embodiment, the chip orchip set may be programmed to perform one or more operations of one ormore methods as described herein and may include, for instance, one ormore processors 52, memory devices 54, I/O interfaces 56 and/or othercircuitry components incorporated in one or more physical packages (forexample, chips). By way of example, a physical package may include anarrangement of one or more materials, components, and/or wires on astructural assembly (for example, a baseboard) to provide one or morecharacteristics such as physical strength, conservation of size, and/orlimitation of electrical interaction. It is contemplated that in certainembodiments the chip or chip set can be implemented in a single chip. Itis further contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip or chip setcan be implemented as a single “system on a chip.” It is furthercontemplated that in certain embodiments a separate ASIC may not beused, for example, and that all relevant operations as disclosed hereinmay be performed by a processor or processors. A chip or chip set, or aportion thereof, may constitute a means for performing one or moreoperations of one or more methods as described herein.

In one example embodiment, the chip or chip set includes a communicationmechanism, such as a bus, for passing information among the componentsof the chip or chip set. In accordance with one example embodiment, theprocessor 52 has connectivity to the bus to execute instructions andprocess information stored in, for example, the memory device 54. Ininstances in which the apparatus 50 includes multiple processors, theprocessors may be configured to operate in tandem via the bus to enableindependent execution of instructions, pipelining, and multithreading.In one example embodiment, the chip or chip set may include one or moreprocessors and software and/or firmware supporting and/or relating toand/or for the one or more processors.

As explained above, a UE 20 may be capable of establishing wide area(WA) connectivity via the wide area RAN 22, and may be capable ofestablishing local area (LA) connectivity via the local area network 40.Through these connections, the UE may be configured to access the corenetwork 26 and/or one or more external networks such as the Internet 36,residential/enterprise network 46 or the like. According to exampleembodiments, the UE 20 may include an interface management functionconfigured to concurrently manage a wide area RAN interface and localarea network interface in a manner that coordinates their use andfollows preferences of the PLMN operator. These preferences may be setby the operator in the form of offload policies, such as through the MME28, and loaded into the L-GW 48 via which the UE accesses the externalnetwork(s). The offload policies and respective settings at the L-GW maybe referred to as UE local context in the L-GW. The acting offloadpolicies in the UE may impact the selection of the interface to use. TheUE may, for example, selectively offload traffic flowing through thewide area RAN to instead flow through the local area network, and viceversa, according to the operator's offload policies. In this regard,offload may refer to initiating and/or transferring the mapping oftraffic flows from one interface to another interface. The manner and/orconditions by which the mapping is initiated or transferred, to whichinterfaces which flows are transferred may be defined by the UE or bythe aforementioned offload policies in the UE, or in the L-GWrespectively.

As also explained above, the MME 28 may be configured to select a S-GW30 and/or P-GW 32 for a UE 20 accessing an external network such as theInternet 36 via the core network 26 and wide area RAN 22. In accordancewith example embodiments of the present invention, the MME may include agateway selection function configured to select a L-GW 48 for a UEaccessing the same or another external network via the local areanetwork 40, through or without going through (bypassing) the corenetwork. In particular, the L-GW may be selected to operate concurrentlywith the P-GW 32. The procedures involving the P-GW or S-GW 30 remainintact by the actions in the local area network and its L-GW. The MMEmay be further configured to setup or otherwise load offload andconnectivity policies of the PLMN operator into the selected L-GW,either before, as or after its selection for the particular UE. The MMEmay load the offload and connectivity policies into the selected L-GWthrough or without going through a UE. In one example, these offload andconnectivity policies may be similar to but more elaborate than those ofthe UE contexts managed and stored by the P-GW. The offload andconnectivity policies may include, for example, policies related to theuser's subscribed priority, flow or server-based connectivitypreferences, QoS classes, traffic priorities, traffic shapingparameters, charging, charging principles and mechanisms or the like.Additionally or alternatively, for example, the offload and connectivitypolicies may include security modes and settings.

As described herein, functions of the core network 26 according toexample embodiments may be performed by the MME 28 or ANDSF 34. Itshould be understood, however, that one or more functions described asbeing performed by the MME may instead be performed by another elementof the core network, such as the S-GW 30, P-GW 32, ANDSF, network serveror the like. Similarly, one or more functions described as beingperformed by the ANDSF may instead be performed by another component ofthe core network, such as the S-GW, P-GW, MME or the like. Thus,functions described herein as being performed by a component of the corenetwork may more generally be considered functions performed by the corenetwork.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating various operations in a method thatmay be performed by various means of a UE 20, such as by the variousmeans of the apparatus 50 of FIG. 3 configured to operate as a UE, inaccordance with example embodiments of the present invention. Considerinstances in which the UE 20 is served by a wide area RAN 22 and haslocated a HeNB 42 of a local area network 40, and in which the UE may(but need not) have also established a connection with the dGW 44 of thelocal area network. In these instances, as shown at block 64, the methodmay include means such as the processor 52, I/O interface 56 and/orcommunication interface 58 b for receiving access selection policies ofthe PLMN operator The access selection policies may relate to selectinga BS (e.g., HeNB) based on radio measurements, location, policies or thelike, accessing the network including the BS via the selected BS (ifpermitted), and establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connectionto the respective network. These access selection policies may bereceived from the core network in any of a number of different manners.In one example, the access selection policies may be received from theANDSF 34 such as in or concurrent with a MO for the UE.

As shown in block 66, the method may include means such as the processor52, I/O interface 56 and/or communication interface 58 b for the UEscanning and detecting local area networks 40, or more particularly forexample, HeNBs 42 of local area networks. The method may then includemeans such as the processor for selecting (or receiving selection of) adetected local area network, and establishing a connection to theselected local area network, such as in accordance with the operator'saccess selection policies, as shown in blocks 68 and 70. This mayinclude the UE 20 authenticating with the local area network; and ininstances in which the UE fails to authenticate or otherwise connect tothe selected local area network, the UE may scan and detect anotherlocal area network with which to connect.

After selecting a local area network 40, and before, as or afterestablishing a connection with the respective local area network, themethod may include means such as the processor 52, I/O interface 56and/or communication interface 58 b for preparing for transmission, andtransmitting, a request from the UE 20 to the operator's core network 26for selection of a L-GW 48, as shown in block 72. The request may beprepared for transmission and transmitted, for example, by the UE to thecore network via the wide area RAN 22. In one particular example, therequest may be in the form of a message (e.g., LGW_request) requestingthe domain name or IP address of a L-GW with which the UE may establishconnectivity. This request message may include, for example, theidentity and/or location of the UE. The identity of the UE may beexpressed, for example, as a Mobile Station International SubscriberDirectory Number (MSISDN), International Mobile Subscriber Identity(IMSI) or any of its temporary Mobile Subscriber Identities (e.g.,T-IMSI, P-IMSI, S-IMSI), International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI),or private IP address, IP address or domain name (e.g., Domain NameSystem—DNS—name) of the UE in the local area network (e.g., domain nameof the UE in the domain of the dGW of the local area network), a UniformResource Identifier (URI), Uniform Resource Name (URN), Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) or the like. Such a domain name may be, for example,particularly useful for a mobile Web server. The location of the UE maybe expressed, for example, as geographical coordinates, identifier of acell of the wide area RAN, World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) locationapplication programming interface (API) description, or othernavigational information such as a name and/or address of a structurewithin which the local area network is situated.

In addition to the identity and/or location of the UE 20, the requestmessage from the UE may also include the identity—e.g., service setidentifier (SSID)—of the local area network 40, and if known, theidentity of the HeNB 42 of the local area network with which the UE hasestablished a connection. Further, for example, the request message mayinclude a description or other indication of a cause for the UErequesting selection of a L-GW 48.

In response to the request, the method may include means such as theprocessor 52, I/O interface 56 and/or communication interface 58 b forreceiving a message (e.g., LGW_response) at the UE 20 from the corenetwork 26 including the identity of a L-GW 48 selected by the corenetwork, or more particularly for example, the MME 28 of the corenetwork. This identity may be expressed, for example, as the domain name(e.g., DNS name), IP address or other numerical identity of therespective L-GW. The IP address to identify the L-GW may be a permanentIP address of the interface of the L-GW, where the L-GW may beconfigured to receive Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)requests. In addition to the identity of the L-GW, the response messagemay also include other information regarding the L-GW. This otherinformation may include whether the local area network 40 via which theUE connects to the L-GW is a preferred network (e.g., a trusted oruntrusted network), and/or local network security configurationinformation for the L-GW.

After receiving the response message, the method may include means suchas the processor 52, I/O interface 56 and/or communication interface 58b for directing contact with the selected L-GW 48 based on its identity,and establishment of a connection with the respective L-GW, as shown inblock 74. The UE 20 may thus have concurrent wide area connectivity andlocal area connectivity with one or more external networks (e.g., theInternet 36, private network, etc.), and may selectively communicatewith the external network(s) via the respective wide area connectivityand local area connectivity according to the operator's offloadpolicies. These offload policies may be loaded by the core network intothe L-GW, such as in a manner via or independent of a UE.

In one example, the connection between the UE 20 and L-GW 48 may be atunnel, such as a secured tunnel, between the UE and L-GW, which may beoriginated by the UE. In this example, the tunnel may be establishedaccording to any of a number of different techniques to create any oneor more of a number of different types of tunnels such as an IP-IPtunnel, IP Security (IPsec) tunnel, Secure Shell (SSH) tunnel, TransportLayer Security (TLS) tunnel, Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)tunnel or the like. An IP-IP tunnel may be established, for example, inaccordance with Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request forComments (RFC) document RFC 2003, entitled: IP Encapsulation within IP.An IPsec tunnel may be established, for example, in accordance with IETFRFC 4213, entitled: Basic Transition Mechanisms for IPv6 Hosts andRouters. A SSH tunnel may be established, for example, in accordancewith IETF RFC 4253, entitled: The Secure Shell (SSH) Transport LayerProtocol. A SSH tunnel may be established, for example, in accordancewith IETF RFC 4253, entitled: The Secure Shell (SSH) Transport LayerProtocol. A TLS tunnel may be established, for example, in accordancewith IETF RFC 5246, entitled: The Transport Layer Security (TLS)Protocol. A HTTPS tunnel may be established, for example, in accordancewith IETF RFC 2818, entitled: HTTP over TLS.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating various operations in a method thatmay be performed by various means of the core network 26, or moreparticularly for example the MME 28 of the core network, such as by thevarious means of the apparatus 50 of FIG. 3 configured to operate as acomponent of the core network, in accordance with example embodiments ofthe present invention. From the standpoint of the core network, considerinstances in which the core network is serving a UE 20 via a wide areaRAN 22, and may be additionally providing the UE with connectivity to anexternal network such as the Internet 36 via an appropriate P-GW 32. Inthese instances, as shown at block 76, the method may include means suchas the processor 52, I/O interface 56 and/or communication interface 58b for receiving a request for selection of a L-GW 48. The request may bereceived, for example, by the core network from the UE via the wide areaRAN. As indicated above, in one particular example, the request may bein the form of a message (e.g., LGW_request) requesting the domain nameor IP address of a L-GW with which the UE may establish connectivity.

In response to the request, as shown in block 78, the method may includemeans such as the processor 52 selecting an appropriate L-GW 48. In thisregard, the L-GW may be selected in a manner without an impact to theS-GW 30 and/or P-GW 32 of the core network 26 providing connectivity tothe UE 20. The L-GW may be selected based on any of a number ofdifferent variables including, for example, a subscription of the UE'suser with the PLMN operator (determined based on the identity of theUE), the location (e.g., geographical coordinates), context informationand/or presence definitions of the UE 20, QoS and/or service profiles,and/or the identity (e.g., SSID) of the local area network 40. Moreparticularly, for example, the means for selecting the L-GW may check asubscription of the UE's user that may involve the MME communicatingwith a home subscriber server (HSS), home location register (HLR) or thelike. The means for selecting the L-GW may also check informationregarding the local area network based on its identity, which mayinvolve the contacting or otherwise utilizing a registry of local areanetworks trusted or contracted with respect to the PLMN. The means forselecting the L-GW may check the UE's location for an appropriate L-GWlocated proximate the UE. The means for selecting the L-GW may alsoconsider other variables such as its own information regardingselectable L-GWs (e.g., pool areas of gateways) or by searchinginformation bases for information about other selectable L-GWs.

After selecting a L-GW 48, as shown in block 80, the method may includemeans such as the processor 52, I/O interface 56 and/or communicationinterface 58 b for preparing for transmission, and transmitting, amessage (e.g., LGW_response) to the UE 20 (via the wide area RAN 22)including the identity of the selected L-GW. The response message mayalso, and optionally, include other information such as whether thelocal area network 40 via which the UE connects to the L-GW is apreferred network (e.g., a trusted or untrusted network), and/or localnetwork security configuration information for the L-GW.

The method may further include means such as the processor 52, I/Ointerface 56 and/or communication interface 58 b for directing thesetting up or otherwise loading, into the selected L-GW 48, offload andconnectivity policies of the PLMN operator. These policies may be setupor loaded into the selected L-GW before the respective L-GW is selectedfor the UE 20, or may be setup or loaded during or after the L-GW isselected. In this regard, the offload and connectivity policies may ormay not be particular to the UE requesting selection of a L-GW. Forexample, the offload and connectivity policies may be generic to a UE,and may be loaded into the L-GW before its selection by request of aparticular UE. Once selected by request of a particular UE, as shown inblock 82, the method may further include means such as the processor 52,I/O interface 56 and/or communication interface 58 b for directingupdating of the offload and connectivity policies such that one or moreof the policies are directed to the particular UE. These policies may beloaded from and/or updated by the core network 26 through an externalnetwork such as the Internet 36, or through the wide area RAN 22 andlocal area network 40 via the UE. By permitting the core network tosetup the offload and connectivity policies with the L-GW, the corenetwork operator may at least partially control parameters of the UE'sconnectivity with the L-GW such as with respect to priorities, chargingand traffic management on lower layers or traffic management in the formof IP flows.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, which collectively present acontrol flow diagram of the network elements of FIG. 2 and various othernetwork elements implementing example embodiments of the presentinvention. Although FIGS. 6 a and 6 b may provide some indication of anorder of occurrence of operations between the elements, it should beunderstood that the operations may be performed in a different order inaccordance with example embodiments of the present invention.

As shown, the UE 20 may establish a wide area (i.e., via the wide areaRAN 22) PDN connectivity with a server 38 through the P-GW 32. As partof this connectivity, the UE may be assigned an IP address and/or domainname in the domain of the P-GW (e.g., MyIP@PDN_GW). Again, althoughdescribed as establishing connectivity with a server, that other typesof connections are possible, such as in the context of peer-to-peernetworking, ad-hoc networking or the like where the UE may serve as ahost, client or both host and client.

Before, after or as the UE 20 establishes PDN connectivity with theserver 38, the PLMN operator may set one or more access selectionpolicies in the ANDSF 34, which may be transmitted to the UE such as inor concurrent with a MO for the UE. Similarly, the operator may set oneor more offload and connectivity policies, which the MME 28 (or othercore network component) may transmit to the L-GW 48 for loadingthereinto. The L-GW may load or otherwise store the offload andconnectivity policies, and return a confirmation back to the MME.

Before, after or as the UE 38 establishes wide area PDN connectivitywith the server 38, the UE may scan one or more local area networks 40,or more particularly for example, HeNBs 42 of local area networks. Inthis regard, the UE may receive beacon signals from one or more HeNBsincluding the SSIDs of their respective local area networks. The UE maydetect the HeNBs and their respective network names and select a localarea network including an HeNB with which to connect. The UE may thenestablish a connection, such as a radio resource control (RRC)connection, with a selected HeNB of the selected local area network.

Once connected with the selected HeNB 42, the UE may establish a DHCPconnection with a DHCP server of the selected local area network 40. Bythis connection, the DHCP server may auto-configure the UE with one ormore parameters to permit the UE to communicate in the local areanetwork. These parameters may include, for example, assignment of a dGW44 and a private IP address to the UE (e.g., IP_UE_dGW=192.168.255.3) atthe assigned dGW. At this time, the UE may also be assigned or otherwiseconfigured with a domain name (e.g., MyIP@dGW) associated with itsprivate IP address at the dGW. The UE may then establish an IPconnection with its assigned dGW, which may assign a temporary public IPaddress to the UE (e.g., 17.16.15.4).

After selecting a local area network 40, and before, as or afterestablishing a connection with the respective local area network, the UE20 may transmit a request to the MME 28 of the operator's core networkfor selection of a L-GW 48. The request may be transmitted via the widearea connectivity in the form of a NAS message (e.g., LGW_request)requesting the domain name or IP address of a L-GW with which the UE mayestablish connectivity. The MME may receive the request, and may selectan appropriate L-GW in response to the request. The MME may thentransmit a response to the UE that indicates the domain name or IPaddress of the selected L-GW, such as in the form of a NAS message(e.g., LGW_response). Similar to the request, the response may betransmitted to the UE via its wide area connectivity.

After the UE 20 receives the identity of a selected L-GW 48, presumingthe identity is in the form of a domain name, the UE may query a DNSserver to acquire the IP address of the L-GW (e.g., 100.3.4.5). The UEmay then establish a connection with the respective L-GW based on its IPaddress. This connection may be established as a tunnel between the UEand L-GW, and its establishment may include tunnelling, authenticationand security processes. During establishment of the connection betweenthe UE and L-GW, the UE may be assigned a private IP address (e.g.,IP_UE_L-GW=10.10.11.5) at the L-GW. The private IP address may be for,example, an IPSec, SSH, TLS address or the like. At this time, the UEmay also be assigned or otherwise configured with a domain name (e.g.,MyIP@L-GW) associated with its private IP address at the L-GW.

Upon establishment of its connection with the selected L-GW 48, the UE20 may have concurrent wide area connectivity and local areaconnectivity with the server 38. The UE may therefore implement theoperator-set offload policies to select between its interfaces to manageits connectivity with the server, such as based on the respectivepolicies loaded into the L-GW by the MME 28. The UE may, for example,perform this interface selection statically per flow or flow type at theclient-server connection setup, or per flow or flow type dynamicallyduring the lifetime of a flow based on appropriate criteria. As shown,the UE's local area connectivity with the server may includeencapsulating data to/from the UE. The data may include the private IPaddress of the UE with the L-GW as its inner address, and the private IPaddress of the UE with the dGW 44 as its outer address.

As explained above, a UE 20 may request selection of a L-GW 48 by a corenetwork 26 with which the UE has an established wide area connection,and the core network may select an appropriate L-GW and provide theidentity of the selected L-GW to the UE. In another example embodiment,the UE may instead receive from the core network a list identifyingpossible L-GWs and instructions on how to select a L-GW from the list.

The core network 26 (e.g., MME 28) may push the list and instructions tothe UE 20 at one or more instances, such as when the UE first connectsto the core network via the wide area RAN 22. The list and/orinstructions may then be periodically updated by the core network, asdesired. The list may identify a plurality of possible L-GWs 48, but mayalternatively identify a single L-GW such as in the case of a UE roamingabroad. In instances in which the list includes a plurality of possibleL-GWs, the instructions may direct the UE to select a L-GW in a numberof different manners, such as in a manner similar to that describedabove whereby the core network selects a L-GW. Thus, for example, theinstructions may direct the UE to select a L-GW based on a subscriptionof the UE's user with the PLMN operator (determined based on theidentity of the UE), the location (e.g., geographical coordinates),context information and/or presence definitions of the UE, QoS and/orservice profiles, and/or the identity (e.g., SSID) of the local areanetwork 40.

After receiving the list and instructions, the UE 20 may select a L-GW48 from the list in accordance with the instructions. The UE may thencontact and establish a connection with the selected L-GW. In variousinstances, before contacting and establishing a connection with theselected L-GW, the UE may send a request to the core network 26 (e.g.;MME 28) for approval of the selected L-GW. The core network, in turn,may perform an approval process for the selected L-GW, such as in amanner similar to which the core network selects a L-GW. The corenetwork may then respond to the request accepting the L-GW selection, orotherwise rejecting the L-GW selection.

As also explained above, according to example embodiments of the presentinvention, a UE 20 may have concurrent radio access connections withboth the wide area RAN 22 and local area network 40. The UE'sconnectivity via the local area network may include a tunnel between theUE and L-GW 48, as opposed to between the HeNB 42 and L-GW. Also,through the concurrent radio access connections, the UE may havedifferent radio access to the same external network or differentexternal networks (e.g., Internet 36), which may be effectuated throughthe same or different wide area RAN and local area network access pointnames (APNs). And by permitting multiple concurrent radio accessconnections, connectivity of the UE may be more robust and less varyingin terms of offered throughput.

Further, according to example embodiments, selection of a L-GW 48 may bemade in a manner consistent with selection of a S-GW 30, and may be madeby the MME 28 without requiring significant resources. The selectionprocess may be effectuated without handover measurement reporting to thecore network 26, and/or without executing path (tunnel) switching due tohandovers. Local area network handovers and cell changes may be madewithout visibility to the core network, and connectivity to the localarea network may be fully compliant to the IP legacy.

According to one aspect of the example embodiments of present invention,the functions performed by the apparatus 50, such as those illustratedby FIGS. 4-6, may be performed by various means. It will be understoodthat each block or operation of the flowcharts and control flow diagram,and/or combinations of blocks or operations in the flowcharts andcontrol flow diagram, can be implemented by various means. Means forimplementing the blocks or operations of the flowcharts and control flowdiagram, combinations of the blocks or operations in the flowcharts andcontrol flow diagram, or other functionality of example embodiments ofthe present invention described herein may include hardware, and/or acomputer program product including a computer-readable storage mediumhaving one or more computer program code instructions, programinstructions, or executable computer-readable program code instructionsstored therein. In this regard, program code instructions may be storedon a memory device, such as the memory device 54 of the exampleapparatus, and executed by a processor, such as the processor 52 of theexample apparatus. As will be appreciated, any such program codeinstructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmableapparatus (e.g., processor, memory device, or the like) from acomputer-readable storage medium to produce a particular machine, suchthat the particular machine becomes a means for implementing thefunctions specified in the flowcharts' and control flow diagram'sblock(s) or operation(s). These program code instructions may also bestored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer,a processor, or other programmable apparatus to function in a particularmanner to thereby generate a particular machine or particular article ofmanufacture. The instructions stored in the computer-readable storagemedium may produce an article of manufacture, where the article ofmanufacture becomes a means for implementing the functions specified inthe flowcharts' and control flow diagram's block(s) or operation(s). Theprogram code instructions may be retrieved from a computer-readablestorage medium and loaded into a computer, processor, or otherprogrammable apparatus to configure the computer, processor, or otherprogrammable apparatus to execute operations to be performed on or bythe computer, processor, or other programmable apparatus. Retrieval,loading, and execution of the program code instructions may be performedsequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded, andexecuted at a time. In some example embodiments, retrieval, loadingand/or execution may be performed in parallel such that multipleinstructions are retrieved, loaded, and/or executed together. Executionof the program code instructions may produce a computer-implementedprocess such that the instructions executed by the computer, processor,or other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementing thefunctions specified in the flowcharts' and control flow diagram'sblock(s) or operation(s).

Accordingly, execution of instructions associated with the blocks oroperations of the flowcharts and control flow diagram by a processor, orstorage of instructions associated with the blocks or operations of theflowcharts and control flow diagram in a computer-readable storagemedium, supports combinations of operations for performing the specifiedfunctions. It will also be understood that one or more blocks oroperations of the flowcharts and control flow diagram, and combinationsof blocks or operations in the flowcharts and control flow diagram, maybe implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems and/orprocessors which perform the specified functions, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and program code instructions.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain examplecombinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated thatdifferent combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided byalternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elementsand/or functions other than those explicitly described above are alsocontemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least onememory including computer program code, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to at least: direct establishment of a connection ofthe apparatus with a core network via a wide area radio access network,the core network being coupled to a first external network; select orreceive selection of a local area network that is distinct from the widearea radio access network, and that is coupled to a second externalnetwork via one or more local gateways, the second external networkbeing the same as or different from the first external network; receivean identity of a selected local gateway from the core network; anddirect contact with the selected local gateway based on the identity,and establishment of a connection of the apparatus with the selectedlocal gateway, the apparatus thereby being connected to the secondexternal network via the local area network and selected local gateway.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein being configured to cause theapparatus to receive an identity of a selected local gateway includesbeing configured to cause the apparatus to: prepare for transmissionfrom the apparatus to the core network via the wide area radio accessnetwork, a request for selection of a local gateway of the one or morelocal gateways via which the local area network is coupled to the secondexternal network; and receive an identity of a selected local gateway ofthe one or more local gateways from the core network in response to therequest.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein being configured to causethe apparatus to receive an identity of a selected local gatewayincludes being configured to cause the apparatus to: receive from thecore network a list identifying one or more possible local gateways andinstructions on how to select a local gateway from the list; and selecta local gateway from the list in accordance with the instructions. 4.The apparatus of claim 3, wherein being configured to cause theapparatus to receive an identity of a selected local gateway includesbeing configured to cause the apparatus to further: prepare fortransmission from the apparatus to the core network via the wide arearadio access network, a request for approval of the selected localgateway; and in response to the request, receive a response from thecore network accepting or rejecting the selected local gateway.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus todirect establishment of a connection of the apparatus with the selectedlocal gateway includes being configured to cause the apparatus to directestablishment of a tunnel between the apparatus and the selected localgateway, the apparatus and selected local gateway being the endpoints ofthe tunnel.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has aconcurrent connection with the first external network via the wide arearadio access network and with the second external network via the localarea network after establishment of the connection of the apparatus withthe selected local gateway.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the atleast one memory and the computer program code are further configuredto, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further:selectively communicate with the first external network via the widearea radio access network, and the second external network via the localarea network, according to one or more offload policies loaded by thecore network into the selected local gateway.
 8. An apparatuscomprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory includingcomputer program code, the at least one memory and the computer programcode configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatusto at least: prepare an identity of a selected local gateway fortransmission to user equipment, the identity of the selected localgateway being prepared for transmission from the apparatus as part of acore network with which the user equipment is connected via a wide arearadio access network, the core network being coupled to a first externalnetwork, the user equipment being configured to select or receiveselection of a local area network that is distinct from the wide arearadio access network, and that is coupled to a second external networkvia one or more local gateways, the second external network being thesame as or different from the first external network, wherein the userequipment is configured to contact the selected local gateway based onthe identity, and establish a connection with the selected localgateway, the user equipment thereby being connected to the secondexternal network via the local area network and selected local gateway.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and thecomputer program code are further configured to, with the at least oneprocessor, cause the apparatus to further: prepare one or more offloadand connectivity policies for transmission from the core network to atleast one of the one or more local gateways to thereby load therespective policies into the respective at least one of the one or morelocal gateways, the user equipment connection with the selected gatewaybeing effectuated in accordance with the offload and connectivitypolicies.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code are further configured to, with the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus to further: receive a requestfor selection of a local gateway of the one or more local gateways viawhich the local area network is coupled to the second external network;and select a local gateway of the one or more local gateways, whereinbeing configured to cause the apparatus to prepare an identity of aselected local gateway for transmission includes being configured tocause the apparatus to prepare an identity of the selected local gatewayfor transmission.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein beingconfigured to cause the apparatus to select a local gateway includesbeing configured to cause the apparatus to select a local gateway basedon one or more of an identity of the user equipment, a location of theuser equipment or an identity of the selected local area network. 12.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein being configured to cause theapparatus to prepare an identity of a selected local gateway fortransmission includes being configured to cause the apparatus to preparefor transmission, a list identifying one or more possible local gatewaysand instructions on how to select a local gateway from the list, theuser equipment being configured to select a local gateway from the listin accordance with the instructions.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code arefurther configured to, with the at least one processor, cause theapparatus to further: receive from the user equipment via the wide arearadio access network, a request for approval of the selected localgateway; and in response to the request, prepare a response fortransmission to the user equipment accepting or rejecting the selectedlocal gateway.
 14. A method comprising: directing establishment of aconnection of an apparatus with a core network via a wide area radioaccess network, the core network being coupled to a first externalnetwork; selecting or receiving selection of a local area network thatis distinct from the wide area radio access network, and that is coupledto a second external network via one or more local gateways, the secondexternal network being the same as or different from the first externalnetwork; receiving an identity of a selected local gateway from the corenetwork; and directing contact with the selected local gateway based onthe identity, and establishment of a connection of the apparatus withthe selected local gateway, the apparatus thereby being connected to thesecond external network via the local area network and selected localgateway.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving an identity of aselected local gateway includes: preparing for transmission from theapparatus to the core network via the wide area radio access network, arequest for selection of a local gateway of the one or more localgateways via which the local area network is coupled to the secondexternal network; and receiving an identity of a selected local gatewayof the one or more local gateways from the core network in response tothe request.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving an identityof a selected local gateway includes: receiving from the core network alist identifying one or more possible local gateways and instructions onhow to select a local gateway from the list; and selecting a localgateway from the list in accordance with the instructions.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein receiving an identity of a selected localgateway further includes: preparing for transmission from the apparatusto the core network via the wide area radio access network, a requestfor approval of the selected local gateway; and in response to therequest, receiving a response from the core network accepting orrejecting the selected local gateway.
 18. The method of claim 14,wherein directing establishment of a connection of the apparatus withthe selected local gateway includes directing establishment of a tunnelbetween the apparatus and the selected local gateway, the apparatus andselected local gateway being the endpoints of the tunnel.
 19. The methodof claim 14, wherein the apparatus has a concurrent connection with thefirst external network via the wide area radio access network and withthe second external network via the local area network afterestablishment of the connection of the apparatus with the selected localgateway.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising: selectivelycommunicating with the first external network via the wide area radioaccess network, and with the second external network via the local areanetwork, according to one or more offload policies loaded by the corenetwork into the selected gateway.
 21. A method comprising: preparing anidentity of a selected local gateway for transmission to user equipment,the identity of the selected local gateway being prepared fortransmission from an apparatus of a core network with which a userequipment is connected via a wide area radio access network, the corenetwork being coupled to a first external network, the user equipmentbeing configured to select or receive selection of a local area networkthat is distinct from the wide area radio access network, and that iscoupled to a second external network via one or more local gateways, thesecond external network being the same as or different from the firstexternal network, the request being for selection of a local gateway ofthe one or more local gateways, wherein the user equipment is configuredto contact the selected local gateway based on the identity, andestablish a connection with the selected local gateway, the userequipment thereby being connected to the second external network via thelocal area network and selected local gateway.
 22. The method of claim21 further comprising: preparing one or more offload and connectivitypolicies for transmission from the core network to at least one of theone or more local gateways to thereby load the respective policies intothe respective at least one of the one or more local gateways, the userequipment connection with the selected gateway being effectuated inaccordance with the offload and connectivity policies.
 23. The apparatusof claim 21 further comprising: receiving a request for selection of alocal gateway of the one or more local gateways via which the local areanetwork is coupled to the second external network; and selecting a localgateway of the one or more local gateways, wherein preparing an identityof a selected local gateway for transmission includes preparing anidentity of the selected local gateway for transmission.
 24. The methodof claim 23, wherein selecting a local gateway includes selecting alocal gateway based on one or more of an identity of the user equipment,a location of the user equipment or an identity of the selected localarea network.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein preparing an identityof a selected local gateway for transmission includes preparing fortransmission, a list identifying one or more possible local gateways andinstructions on how to select a local gateway from the list, the userequipment being configured to select a local gateway from the list inaccordance with the instructions.
 26. The method of claim 25 furthercomprising: receiving from the user equipment via the wide area radioaccess network, a request for approval of the selected local gateway;and in response to the request, preparing a response for transmission tothe user equipment accepting or rejecting the selected local gateway.27. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable programcode portions stored therein, the computer-readable storage medium andcomputer-readable program code portions being configured to, with atleast one processor, cause an apparatus to at least: directestablishment of a connection of the apparatus with a core network via awide area radio access network, the core network being coupled to afirst external network; select or receive selection of a local areanetwork that is distinct from the wide area radio access network, andthat is coupled to a second external network via one or more localgateways, the second external network being the same as or differentfrom the first external network; receive an identity of a selected localgateway from the core network; and direct contact with the selectedlocal gateway based on the identity, and establishment of a connectionof the apparatus with the selected local gateway, the apparatus therebybeing connected to the second external network via the local areanetwork and selected local gateway.
 28. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 27, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus toreceive an identity of a selected local gateway includes beingconfigured to cause the apparatus to: prepare for transmission from theapparatus to the core network via the wide area radio access network, arequest for selection of a local gateway of the one or more localgateways via which the local area network is coupled to the secondexternal network; and receive an identity of a selected local gateway ofthe one or more local gateways from the core network in response to therequest.
 29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, whereinbeing configured to cause the apparatus to receive an identity of aselected local gateway includes being configured to cause the apparatusto: receive from the core network a list identifying one or morepossible local gateways and instructions on how to select a localgateway from the list; and select a local gateway from the list inaccordance with the instructions.
 30. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 29, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus toreceive an identity of a selected local gateway includes beingconfigured to cause the apparatus to further: prepare for transmissionfrom the apparatus to the core network via the wide area radio accessnetwork, a request for approval of the selected local gateway; and inresponse to the request, receive a response from the core networkaccepting or rejecting the selected local gateway.
 31. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein being configuredto cause the apparatus to direct establishment of a connection of theapparatus with the selected local gateway includes being configured tocause the apparatus to direct establishment of a tunnel between theapparatus and the selected local gateway, the apparatus and selectedlocal gateway being the endpoints of the tunnel.
 32. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the apparatus hasa concurrent connection with the first external network via the widearea radio access network and with the second external network via thelocal area network after establishment of the connection of theapparatus with the selected local gateway.
 33. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 32, the computer-readable storage medium andcomputer-readable program code portions are further configured to, withthe at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further: selectivelycommunicate with the first external network via the wide area radioaccess network, and the second external network via the local areanetwork, according to one or more offload policies loaded by the corenetwork into the selected local gateway.
 34. A computer-readable storagemedium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein,the computer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program codeportions being configured to, with at least one processor, cause anapparatus to at least: prepare an identity of a selected local gatewayfor transmission to user equipment, the identity of the selected localgateway being prepared for transmission from the apparatus as part of acore network with which the user equipment is connected via a wide arearadio access network, the core network being coupled to a first externalnetwork, the user equipment being configured to select or receiveselection of a local area network that is distinct from the wide arearadio access network, and that is coupled to a second external networkvia one or more local gateways, the second external network being thesame as or different from the first external network, wherein the userequipment is configured to contact the selected local gateway based onthe identity, and establish a connection with the selected localgateway, the user equipment thereby being connected to the secondexternal network via the local area network and selected local gateway.35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein thecomputer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program codeportions are further configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to further: prepare one or more offload andconnectivity policies for transmission from the core network to at leastone of the one or more local gateways to thereby load the respectivepolicies into the respective at least one of the one or more localgateways, the user equipment connection with the selected gateway beingeffectuated in accordance with the offload and connectivity policies.36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein thecomputer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program codeportions are further configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to further: receive a request for selection of alocal gateway of the one or more local gateways via which the local areanetwork is coupled to the second external network; and select a localgateway of the one or more local gateways, wherein being configured tocause the apparatus to prepare an identity of a selected local gatewayfor transmission includes being configured to cause the apparatus toprepare an identity of the selected local gateway for transmission. 37.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein beingconfigured to cause the apparatus to select a local gateway includesbeing configured to cause the apparatus to select a local gateway basedon one or more of an identity of the user equipment, a location of theuser equipment or an identity of the selected local area network. 38.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein beingconfigured to cause the apparatus to prepare an identity of a selectedlocal gateway for transmission includes being configured to cause theapparatus to prepare for transmission, a list identifying one or morepossible local gateways and instructions on how to select a localgateway from the list, the user equipment being configured to select alocal gateway from the list in accordance with the instructions.
 39. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein thecomputer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program codeportions are further configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to further: receive from the user equipment via thewide area radio access network, a request for approval of the selectedlocal gateway; and in response to the request, prepare a response fortransmission to the user equipment accepting or rejecting the selectedlocal gateway.